Opponents of the Mother Canada statue planned for Cape Breton are hoping the change in government will mark the beginning of the end for the controversial project.
Non-partisan group Friends of Green Cove feels the proposed eight-storey war memorial had been all but rubber stamped by the defeated Stephen Harper government.
"We do think this may be the breakthrough we have been waiting for," said Sean Howard, a member of the group. “We certainly think that if the Conservatives had been re-elected, they probably would have made sure that Parks Canada would have approved the scheme.”
The memorial has been publically backed by Conservative Peter MacKay.
"I've seen a lot of the empirical data and evidence that suggests this does not create an environmental concern," said MacKay.
Liberal MP Mark Eyking has also lent his conditional support.
“That there would be no government money in there, and that there's been enough public review,” said Eyking. “And third, of course, is any other first nations people, fisheries, ecological reviews."
A spokesperson for the Never Forgotten Memorial Foundation – the project’s private proponent – said in a statement that they look forward to working with newly elected Liberal government.
In the meantime, the foundation awaits a response from Parks Canada on what they call their ‘draft detailed impact analysis’ statement.
The Friends of Green Cove have long maintained that environmental studies and public consultation have been rushed by project proponents.
"This has to be a proper democratic, transparent process, and I don't think we had one,” said Howard. “I think we might get one now."
The group and their member of parliament plan to speak with the new minister responsible for Parks Canada once the position is filled.
"At the very least, this may slow things down and give the new government a chance to take a look at the whole proposal," said Howard.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ryan MacDonald
